BUDGETARY cuts amounting to millions of dollars proposed by Alliance For Change Member of Parliament Khemraj Ramjattan in the National Assembly on Tuesday, are not going down well with several employees of government ministries. Yesterday, thousands of workers from several government ministries gathered outside the premises of Parliament Buildings in protest against the proposed AFC action.
The Guyana Chronicle was on site, and spoke with several employees. This is what they had to say:

** ROMEL ROOPNARINE  – (PUBLIC SERVANT)
The protest here shows that this proposal by the AFC is truly affecting the working-class people; and if you look here, you will see from the turnout that the policy of employment in the public sector is not due to political affiliation.
These workers who are out here are the ones who stand to lose and be affected, and could even suffer by the decision of a Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) if they pass it (the cuts).
It is unfortunate that these two parties are pushing for the motion to be passed when, in the same breath, they are the ones who often say that they are for law and order.

** YONNETTE JOHNSON –  (EDUCATION MINISTRY EMPLOYEE)
I think that a considerable number of our staff members are contracted, and we will be affected by this move. We have young, middle-aged and seniors who are employed by the ministry. Each of these persons is dependent on his or her job for a living. If the AFC proposal is taken, then hundreds will be out of jobs, and the spinoff is (that) children will suffer and we (Education Ministry) will be placed in jeopardy.

**  OMAR SHARIFF –   (UNIVERSITY STUDENT)
I think what we need to do is ensure that the working people have their jobs, and keep their jobs. I am of the view that the people need these jobs to care for their families, and to provide for those who depend on those jobs.
If you want to cut things, we do not have a problem, but think them through first; deciding to arbitrarily slash here and cut there is unacceptable, and affects a large number of contracted employees, and it is definitely not a wise move.

**  DAVID SOOKRAM –  (CULTURE MINISTRY EMPLOYEE)
I am sure that good sense will prevail and that all parties (will) work together in the best interest of all Guyanese.
The proposal by the Alliance For Change caught me by surprise, because I thought that the debate was going in an orderly fashion and pretty civilized; but for a party to come so suddenly with such a proposal is difficult to understand what is going on.